Fortunately, humans are slaving away to bridge this technology gap. At the recent American Pet Products Manufacturers Association trade show in San Diego, hundreds of entrepreneurs unveiled the latest creature comforts for creatures: automobiles for hamsters, canine cigars, aromatherapy sprays to boost pet confidence, menorah chew toys, even an animal Easy-Bake Oven.

For almost every human product, there was a pet equivalent. Instead of Altoid breath mints, vendors proffered pocket-size tins of YipYap bone-shaped breath treats. Instead of Aramis and Versace perfumes, they spritzed Aramutts and Grrsace. Instead of garage-door openers, merchants demonstrated doggy-door openers triggered by a sensor on the pet's collar.

"So many products now cross over from people," said Gretchen Ramsey, a spokeswoman for the manufacturers association. "Pets have become like members of the family."

Exemplifying the crossover trend is Hasbro, which recently unleashed a line of pet toys that mimics the company's human products. Doggie Dough is an edible version of Play-Doh (the treats can also be baked in a modified Easy-Bake Oven). Mr. Potato Hound is a canine replica of Mr. Potato Head. And Tonka trucks have been stripped down into tire chew toys.

"It's a natural extension for us," said Bob Stebenne, president of new business development for Hasbro. "Nowhere is it written in stone that toys have to be just for kids."

Can Scrabble and Battleship for pets be far behind?

The potential market seems limitless. This year, Americans will spend an estimated $28.5 billion on their dogs, cats, reptiles, rabbits, birds and fish, according to the association. That's up from $17 billion just seven years ago. And the 2001 trade show dwarfed the organization's inaugural effort in 1959, when just a handful of manufacturers and distributors camped out in a Chicago hotel.

All this pampering of pets is not limited to overindulgent Americans. At the San Diego Convention Center, retailers from Brazil, South Korea, Germany and other nations cruised some 1,500 booths looking for the next hit product to entice customers. They contemplated everything from dog pajamas and canine seat-belt systems to parrot party kits and computer monitor fish tanks.

One of the strangest contraptions on display was Lavakan, "the first cabin for washing dogs and cats." Developed in Spain, it resembles a giant washing machine for pets. The animal sits inside a glass door, the device turns on and the pet vanishes behind a wall of water and shampoo cascading from 37 nozzles. After a few minutes, the rinse cycle begins, then dryers kick in.

"Cats kinda freak out at first," conceded company president Andres Diaz. "Then they calm down."

Sure enough, when the water jets started, the cat clawed furiously at the glass door, then crouched placidly for the rest of the wash, seemingly resigned to its fate. But whenever the water shut off, the cat let out a plaintive meow.

The genesis for these pet products varies widely. Don Knutson created Bow-Ow and Me-Ow, his first-aid kits for dogs and cats, after his pooch was injured during a run. In the mishap, Knutson saw an unfilled product niche.

Developing ideas

Catherine Driessen started selling wheat grass to pet stores instead of juice shops because "the wheat grass industry [for humans] is a cutthroat business." Chemist John Harris' family dreamed up parody perfumes over a bottle of wine.

The resulting concoctions, designed to mimic scents for humans, include Arfmani, CK-9 and Timmy Holedigger. (The first name on that last item was changed to Timmy after Tommy Hilfiger lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter, Harris said. But the matter still isn't settled. "I guess Hilfiger thinks he owns `mmy' too," Harris said.)

The common theme behind the pet items seems to be converting a human product into an animal one. Chomp Inc. deliberately modeled the packaging for its YipYap breath fresheners and Sniffers treats on Altoids and M&Ms, respectively.

"We're trying to create a new category, which is candy for dogs," said co-founder Lesley Lutyens. The treats are even being positioned near pet store cash registers as "impulse buy" items.

Pets as people

Ramsey, the manufacturers association publicist, attributes the trend to the anthropomorphizing of pets.

"Our pets are now people," she explained. "We're no longer seeing them as the farm or yard dog. They're coming into our beds. They are [surrogate] lovers, children and best friends. And when you want to show someone you love them, you buy them things."